Feeding mechanism



Aug. 4, 1936. c. L. POST 2,049,513

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FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3 v .7 mxmlwlmlmlmlmlmumlmlm I l fieriz ar Mai r1655.- I I I ZaucZsL. "P055 Aug. 4, 1936. c. L. POST 2,049,513

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 25, 1954 5 Shets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDING MECHANISM Claudc L. Best, Chicago, Ill. Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,537 7 Claims. (01. 271-44) This invention relates to feeding mechanism, and particularly to a device for feeding envelopes to a printing machine or the like.

I-Ieretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in feeding envelopes to aprinting machine, for example, when the flaps of the envelopes have become warped or curled, particularly adjacent their ends, due to the action of the adhesive applied to the flaps, or due to the action of atmospheric conditions on the adhesive. When the flaps are in such condition, the curl must be removed or smoothed out,'and, unless extreme care is exercised, the curled portions of the flaps may be folded still further under or against the body of the flap, thus producing an undesirable condition of the envelope for passage through a printing machine or the like.

One of the objects, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a feeding mechanismhaving suitable means associatedtherewith for removing from the flaps any curl which may have developed therein. 7

Another object of novel means for directing the end portions of the flaps onto the feed table of the machine and into the end guides by which the envelopes are guided to a printing roller, for example, in proper relation thereto. 1 I

A further object of the invention" is to provide a feeding device wherein one of the end portions of the envelopes is yieldingly urgedtoward one of the envelope end'guides to insure proper positioning of the envelope with relation toa printing roller or the like. 7

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which r Fig. 1 is a plan view of an envelope feeding mechanism shown in relation to a portion of a printing machine, and illustrating my improved feeding and curl removingdevices applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the structurerillustrated in Fig. 1, and

taken substantially as indicated by the line thereof Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on the line 3'--3 of Fig. 1, illustrating a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and illustrating. the action of my improved feedthe invention is to provide into substantial alignment with the body of the of the present invention is ing andcurl removing device in relation to an envelope being fed thereby; 7

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved feeding and uncurling mechanism shown in relation to the fiap of an envelope and illustrating 5 the manner of removing the curl therefrom; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the front edge of the feed table illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In Figs, 1 and 2 of the drawings, the present 10 invention is shown in relation to a fragment of a printing press having a type roller 6 and platen l, the printing press of the character shownbee ing .more fully described in Patent Number 1,758,536 issued to me May 13, 1930, and having 15 a feed table indicated as a whole by the numeral 8 associated therewith, the feed table 8 being provided on its receiving edge with a plurality of series of spaced fingers 9 positioned preferably adjacent the side portions of the table, the adja- 20 cent fingers 9a of the table being inclined inwardly-and away from the body of the table;- or toward a magazine ll adapted to contain a plurality of superposed envelopes E to be fed-to the table 8 and thence to the printing machine. 25 Positioned below the magazine II, is a feeding mechanism indicated as a whole by the numeral I2, the specific details and operation of which are fully described in Patent Number 1,730,477 issued to me October 8, 1929. Briefiyfithe mechanism l2 includes a rotatable finger l3'adapted'" tov engagethe flap F of the lowermost envelope- E positioned in the magazine ina .manner to unfold the flap thereof and move it outwardly envelopeand into a position between upper feed rollers l4 and lower feed segments l5 and I6,

- by which the flap is engaged in a manner to feed the envelope from the magazine II onto :the feed table 8, the feed rollers l4, segments [Sand 40 I6 and the finger l3 being operated in proper synchronism by means of gearing l'l (Figs. 1 and 2) and a drive chain [8, shown in Fig. 2, and

as clearly described in said Patent Number As previously stated, the flaps of envelopes frequently become warped or curled adjacent their end portions due to the action of the adhesive applied to the flaps, or due to the action of atmospheric conditions on the adhesive, in which" case, considerable difficulty has been experienced in feeding envelopes to a printing machine or the like, and to overcome this condition, the present invention contemplates a plurality of spaced mutilated annular fins I9 positioned at the outer sides of the outer feed segments I6 and in the path of the outer end portions of the envelope flaps F in their passage from the magazine I I to the feed table 8 in a manner to engage the curled portion of the flap and remove the curl therefrom.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the finger I3 has moved the flap into position between the feed roller I4 and feed segment I5, and that the envelope E is being withdrawn from the magazine II, and it will be observed also that the leading edge of the feed segment I5 is somewhat in advance of the leading edge of the fins I9, the lead being sufiicient to move the envelope and flap in a forward direction far enough to permit the fins I9 to engage the under side of the flap adjacent its end portions where the curl or warping of the flap usually occurs, thus enabling the fins I9 to lift the curled portion of the flap and remove the curl therefrom and to lift the flap onto the feed table 8 at its receiving edge as the fins pass between the fingers 9 thereof, the inclination of the adjacent fingers 9a insuring the lifting of the flap adjacent its central portion onto the upper surface of the feed table. I

Upon reaching the feed table, the envelope is engaged by a pair of supplemental feed rollers 2I and 22 by which it is moved forwardly and longitudinally of the table 8 until the rear or following edge of the envelope is advanced sufficiently far to be engaged by lugs 23 on feed chains 24 by which the envelope is advanced to the type roller 6 and platen I.

For guiding the envelope in its passage to the type roller while being advanced by the lugs 23 on the chains 24, a plurality of end guides 25 and 26 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) are adjustably mounted on a cross-bar 21 positioned above the feed table and supported in brackets 28 mounted on the side frames 29 of the machine.

The end guides 25 and 26 are of substantially channel or U-shaped cross-section having their open sides adjacent each other and having their receiving ends adjacent the receiving edge of the table 8, and having their discharge ends adjacent the type roller 6 and platen I.

For insuring proper positioning of the envelope E with respect to the type roller 6, the end guide 25 has a portion of its channel'bottom cut away as indicated at 3|, and a resilient springfinger 32 mounted therein and extending longitudinally of the guide 25 toward the delivery end thereof, the outer or free end portion of the finger 32 being inclined inwardly toward the guide 26, as indicated at 33, and adapted to engage one end of an envelope in a .manner to urge the opposite end thereof against the channel bottom of the U-shaped guide 26, thereby providing for the proper positioning of an envelope with relation to the type roller, notwithstanding slight variations which may occur fromtime to time in a batch of envelopes tially uniform length.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3, that the fins I9 in addition to removing the curl from the flap and lifting it onto the feed tables 8, also direct the outer end portions of the flap into the end guides 25 and 26 in a flattened condition to facilitate their passage therethrough,

in which condition the flaps are maintained by reason of the channelled or U-shaped formation of the guides, and presented between t e type intended to be of substan- 7 roller 6 and platen I in proper condition for printing.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides novel means for removing any curl which may occur in 5 the envelope flap and also serves to direct the end portions of the flaps in uncurled or flattened condition onto the feed table 8 and into the end guides 25 and 26, and that by reason of the resilient finger 32,associated with the guide 25, an envelope-is properly positioned with relation to the type roller for engagement thereby.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be val5 riously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

L. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments adja- 7 cent said magazine, means for engaging the flap of an envelope in said magazine to unfold and move said flap into a position between said rollers and segments to be engaged and fed thereby, and means outside said segments rotatable therewith and spaced circumferentially and rearwardly with respect thereto and engageable with said flap for lifting'the extreme outer end portions thereof.

2; In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and inner and outer feed segments adjacent the lower end of said magazine and atone side-thereof, the leading edge of 40 said'inner segment being-in advance of the leading edge of said outer segments, means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelope in said magazine to unfold and move said flap into substantial alignment with the body of the envelope and into a position between said rollers and segments tobe engaged thereby and drawn from said magazine, and means outside the outer segments and rotatable therewith for engaging the extreme outer end portions of said flap in a manner to lift the end portions thereof.

3. In a device for'feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine forcontaining a plurality of superposed envelopes, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed segments adja- I cent the lower end of said magazine and at one side thereof, means for engaging the flap of the lowermost envelope in said magazine for unfolding and moving said flap into substantial alignment with the body positionbetween said rollers and segments to be engaged thereby and drawn from said magazine, and a seriesof spaced fins outside the respective outer segments and rotatable therewith, said fins being'circumferentially disposed with respect to said segments to later engage the extreme outer end portions of said'flap in a'r'nanner to lift the end portions thereof and remove any curl therefrom. 4. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine for containing a plurality of superposed envelopes, a feed table having its receiving edge adjacent said magazine, a plurality of rotatable cooperating feed rollers and feed of said envelope and into a 

